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Post / Chat whores post here (2026)

Just saw a picture on Instergramz from my niece's mother. First day of 7th grade.

WOW Where does the time go!? 7TH GRADE!?? My first girlfriend was in 7th grade. :laughing
 

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Gorgeous girl! I hope she’s able to maintain relationships with her grand mother and wonderful Uncle.
 
Gorgeous girl! I hope she’s able to maintain relationships with her grand mother and wonderful Uncle.
My mom talks with Charissa (the mother) often and then Mason and also my nephew Miles as well while they're on the phone or video chat.

I haven't seen or talked with my niece in a bit. She lives with the mother. She and my brother were co-parenting for awhile but he devolved into such a headcase again. I don't know if it was a court order or just a decision made between the two of them but he does not have contact with his kids for awhile now. It seemed years ago that having kids mellowed him out and taught him some life lessons about responsibility, the needs of others not just his selfish wants, and then he just went back to his old ways.

I know my relationship with my niece and nephew doesn't have anything to do with my brother but because my relationship with him is so fractured there was a time a few years ago I just did not want anything to do with him, including his kids. That's 100% not their fault and not at all fair to them and I know that. I like being their uncle and I need to work on that.
 
$3600, $4225 and $3800 were the three bids.

I went with the second highest bid (through Lowes) as AO Smith hot water heaters are marginally more reliable than Rheem and because $3800 became $3515 when I got a discount for adding our other rental to the same work; so they will do two houses now. That water heater still working is 28 years old!

The "best" plumber according to a Press Democrat survey was the highest bid and the "best" plumber in the area according to Yelp was the lowest bid.

All three were way more than i expected.

Of course, a permit needs to be pulled for a like for like swapout in California by a licensed plumber.

If it were 2027 would be even more expensive as would have to go tankless if I wanted to go gas again.
 
Family is tough.
Now that they're older, it will probably be easier to have a conversation with them why I'm not around as often as I used to be.

There was no family issues or animosity but I didn't really have much of a relationship with my uncle until I was in my mid 20s. Part of that is because in the 90s when he and my mom were living Oakland, he made a choice "fuck this place, I'm out" and moved to Hawaii. Started his own general construction business from the ground up. Built his own house, nicest house on the block. When I graduated from college, I didn't have much job prospects yet so I asked him if I could work him, he said yes, so I did. Sitting in the backyard, I could see Pearl Harbor.

Okay, I'll stop. It's been a very nostalgic day. I have yard work to do.
 
That's crazy! Since when does swapping out a water heater require the "best" plumber... or a permit?
I had my handyman do mine 3 years ago. It took about 4 hours and was $1200
 
That's crazy! Since when does swapping out a water heater require the "best" plumber... or a permit?
I had my handyman do mine 3 years ago. It took about 4 hours and was $1200
Sadly our "good" plumbers all retired so we had to get several quotes from other outfits.

We've had tank gas heaters replaced in the past and never ever paid this much.

Labor etc. 2.5 times the cost of the water heater itself is not what we used to experience as you suggest.

Good news is these are rentals so all will be written off but dayum, for a paycheck to paycheck homeowner that's a tough financial pill to swallow.
 
That's crazy! Since when does swapping out a water heater require the "best" plumber... or a permit?
I had my handyman do mine 3 years ago. It took about 4 hours and was $1200
I did a water heater job for a neighbor last year, had a friend help me, and I charged a lot less than 1200 dollars... I didn't charge anything but I was paid in some beers and BBQ for dinner.
 
$3600, $4225 and $3800 were the three bids.

I went with the second highest bid (through Lowes) as AO Smith hot water heaters are marginally more reliable than Rheem and because $3800 became $3515 when I got a discount for adding our other rental to the same work; so they will do two houses now. That water heater still working is 28 years old!

The "best" plumber according to a Press Democrat survey was the highest bid and the "best" plumber in the area according to Yelp was the lowest bid.

All three were way more than i expected.

Of course, a permit needs to be pulled for a like for like swapout in California by a licensed plumber.

If it were 2027 would be even more expensive as would have to go tankless if I wanted to go gas again.
Installing water heater units is a tankless job.
 
I did a water heater job for a neighbor last year, had a friend help me, and I charged a lot less than 1200 dollars.
I've done several over the years, for my parents and other family members. I actually did the last one here at my house before this one, 28ish years ago.
At this point, I'd rather spend the money than the time. But for $3600, I'll bust out the tools.
I'm definitely cheaper than I am lazy. :laughing
 
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